Hello everyone,
I'm feeling just a tad bit anxious, and I'd really welcome your prayers and happy thoughts! I'm leaving this afternoon for London, and while I'm excited for the mini-vacation, I'm feeling all sorts of stressed about returning to Portugal on Sunday. Would you please pray that I would have no problems leaving the UK or re-entering Portugal? Pray that I get the nicest customs people in the world, and that they just stamp me through with no issues and no problems?
Thank you, friends.
I'll, of course, let you know how it goes!
Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message) says, "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
March 10, 2011
March 8, 2011
The Long, Arduous Tale of the Dreaded SEF Office...
Yesterday, I went to SEF--Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras--in the hopes of being able to renew my expired residency here in Portugal. It seemed simple enough, at least according to the Portuguese consulate in America! They instructed me to come into Portugal under the three month tourist visa that we get automatically, and then, while here, I should schedule an appointment with SEF to renew my residency. So, that's what I did.
My three months expire on March 14th, so I first scheduled an appointment with SEF in February. We were waiting on my FBI criminal background check results to come back though, and with all the snow in America, those were delayed. So, we pushed back my SEF appointment to yesterday. Well, yesterday comes along--and still no fingerprint results. At this point, though, I didn't have much of a choice, and went to the appointment anyway.
Surprisingly, we got right in there and didn't have to wait at all. That's really unusual. I thought--hey! A good sign! Silly me. They then proceeded to tell me that my residency card expired while I was out of the country. Therefore, I cannot renew it without paying ridiculous fees (think like 800 euros plus the new processing fee). Besides that, I had a new passport (my old one had expired) and they couldn't match the old visa up or anything (something like that...my Portuguese is sad, at best). Then, they said I'd have to start the process all over again--which hey, fine, I can do that! BUT apparently, SEF here says I cannot do that process from Portugal. I have to do it in America.
So what am I supposed to do now? My three months are up in 6 days. And I have to contact everyone on two continents to figure out how I should proceed...The SEF guy was nice. João and I told him that we were planning on going to England this weekend (João for business--I'm hitching a ride) which is actually a total God-send. Since I'll be leaving the country before my three months is over, I won't be illegal. And when I come back to Portugal, they should stamp my passport again, and I'll have another 3 months to figure all of this out.
The SEF guy told me to schedule another appointment with them for next week, so if I get questioned at all in customs, I can tell them that I have an appointment, show them my residency card and paperwork, and hopefully I shouldn't have a problem getting back in. It really all depends on how nice the customs person is. It makes me nervous. What I'm doing is technically legal, and at this point, is all I can do--but I hate it. I wish I could do this all the right way. So, please pray for me--that I get nice and lovely customs people, and that we get this whole mess sorted out as soon as possible.
I'll keep you updated!
My three months expire on March 14th, so I first scheduled an appointment with SEF in February. We were waiting on my FBI criminal background check results to come back though, and with all the snow in America, those were delayed. So, we pushed back my SEF appointment to yesterday. Well, yesterday comes along--and still no fingerprint results. At this point, though, I didn't have much of a choice, and went to the appointment anyway.
Surprisingly, we got right in there and didn't have to wait at all. That's really unusual. I thought--hey! A good sign! Silly me. They then proceeded to tell me that my residency card expired while I was out of the country. Therefore, I cannot renew it without paying ridiculous fees (think like 800 euros plus the new processing fee). Besides that, I had a new passport (my old one had expired) and they couldn't match the old visa up or anything (something like that...my Portuguese is sad, at best). Then, they said I'd have to start the process all over again--which hey, fine, I can do that! BUT apparently, SEF here says I cannot do that process from Portugal. I have to do it in America.
So what am I supposed to do now? My three months are up in 6 days. And I have to contact everyone on two continents to figure out how I should proceed...The SEF guy was nice. João and I told him that we were planning on going to England this weekend (João for business--I'm hitching a ride) which is actually a total God-send. Since I'll be leaving the country before my three months is over, I won't be illegal. And when I come back to Portugal, they should stamp my passport again, and I'll have another 3 months to figure all of this out.
The SEF guy told me to schedule another appointment with them for next week, so if I get questioned at all in customs, I can tell them that I have an appointment, show them my residency card and paperwork, and hopefully I shouldn't have a problem getting back in. It really all depends on how nice the customs person is. It makes me nervous. What I'm doing is technically legal, and at this point, is all I can do--but I hate it. I wish I could do this all the right way. So, please pray for me--that I get nice and lovely customs people, and that we get this whole mess sorted out as soon as possible.
I'll keep you updated!
March 7, 2011
It's been a wonderful weekend. I've been house sitting for some friends who went on a mini-holiday, and they just happen to be here with NATO. Know what that means? Lucky charms, tacos, and flavored coffee, baby! Woohoo! It's been lovely. I finally got to watch Tangled with some friends, and all in all, just had a relaxing week. Much needed!
Today, I have my SEF appointment (the appointment I have to dazzle the Portuguese officials in so I can receive residency!). I'm supposed to have my criminal background check from the FBI, which I sent to American somewhere around the middle of January. Because of all the snow, it was delayed 3 weeks getting there! But I was finally charged by the FBI for running the check on February 11...now, it's March 7, and I have yet to receive my results. NOT GOOD. This is one of the definite requirements for residency...but the truth is, also, that it all depends on the person I get! If I get a nice person, they may just wave me through....if I get a cranky person, well, I could be in a lot of trouble. The good news is, I'm allowed to be in Portugal for three months without a visa. Those 3 months expire on the 14th...and fortunately, I'm headed to England on Thursday. Hopefully, they will stamp my passport, which SHOULD allow me back into Portugal for another three months...though that's the tricky-round about way of doing things. I'd much rather be able to come back in properly. So loads of prayers today would be awesome...
Off to brave SEF! I'll update you upon my return...
Today, I have my SEF appointment (the appointment I have to dazzle the Portuguese officials in so I can receive residency!). I'm supposed to have my criminal background check from the FBI, which I sent to American somewhere around the middle of January. Because of all the snow, it was delayed 3 weeks getting there! But I was finally charged by the FBI for running the check on February 11...now, it's March 7, and I have yet to receive my results. NOT GOOD. This is one of the definite requirements for residency...but the truth is, also, that it all depends on the person I get! If I get a nice person, they may just wave me through....if I get a cranky person, well, I could be in a lot of trouble. The good news is, I'm allowed to be in Portugal for three months without a visa. Those 3 months expire on the 14th...and fortunately, I'm headed to England on Thursday. Hopefully, they will stamp my passport, which SHOULD allow me back into Portugal for another three months...though that's the tricky-round about way of doing things. I'd much rather be able to come back in properly. So loads of prayers today would be awesome...
Off to brave SEF! I'll update you upon my return...
February 28, 2011
Happy End of February
Here's the newest newsletter (try saying that 5 times fast...)
CLICK HERE.
I promise I'll start doing a better job at blogging! Check in once a week or so for the latest in Portugal :)
Love!
CLICK HERE.
I promise I'll start doing a better job at blogging! Check in once a week or so for the latest in Portugal :)
Love!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
